Three more file to run for Livonia City Council

Three more candidates have decided to join the race for Livonia City Council. One will have the benefit of incumbent status.

City councilman Brandon Kritzman and current planning commissioner Kathleen McIntyre filed paperwork with the city clerk's office Tuesday to run for one of the four seats open this year on the council.

They join resident Tim Klisz, who filed Feb. 6, and resident Christopher Martin, who was the first to file. As of Wednesday morning, that made for a total of four Council candidates.

Martin(Photo: File)

Klisz(Photo: Courtesy of Tim Klisz)

"I very much appreciate being a part of Livonia," Kritzman said. "I feel like we've come a long way in the three-plus years I've been (on council)."

Kritzman, who won a four-year term back in 2011 during his first run for office, said he wants to continue working on the economic development in the city from a city council standpoint, something he said has been tremendous the past few years.

From the commercial development on Middlebelt south of I-96 to the development of business along Victor Parkway, including Dave and Busters, he said the city has seen some major bright spots in recent years.

"I really appreciate our role with city council on shaping that," he said.

The Livonia Tomorrow economic visioning process is another aspect of the development in the city that he said he'd like to continue and bring back to the forefront.

Running as the lone incumbent this year, he said his goal is to hopefully win the election and place high enough to become a leader on the body. The candidate who receives the most votes becomes the council president for two years, while the second-place finisher becomes the council vice president.

Council members John Pastor and Laura Toy are term-limited and cannot run again, while Lynda Scheel is forgoing a run for council to run for the city treasurer's position.

There are some items Krtizman said he'd like to work on outside of economic development, including improving parts of the city, such as looking at the addition of bicycle paths and connectors to the city's parks from Hines Drive to as far north as Rotary Park.

"That's something I would like to see us implement," he said. "We have plenty of rivers and creeks and little parkways, but we don't have a lot of access to them."

McIntyre a first-timer

McIntyre, a former Zoning Board of Appeals member, said she began to realize she would be a good fit to run for public office after completing the Michigan State University Political Leadership program as a fellow.

McIntyre(Photo: File)

She said she moved to several communities in Metro Detroit, but her husband and she decided to come back to Livonia to raise their family. Since then, she's worked as a governmental affairs officer for a major corporation and had worked with city officials in that capacity. That experience was positive enough that it made her interested in the workings of it on a grander scale, she said.

"It really made me appreciate that," she said. "It made me understand why it's such a good business community."

McIntyre said she began thinking about filing to run shortly after the last city election in 2013 as she wrapped up the MSU program. She began asking those close to her about a possible run.

"I got a very good, positive response," she said.

Seeing businesses come to the city firsthand during her time on the ZBA and planning commission has shown her how important it is to ensure the city continues to have strong, economic components.

"I really like the idea of continuing to invest in our key assets," she said. "That's both redevelopment and new development."

She said challenges face the city, including the fact money will not always be as readily available to municipalities as it has been in the past.

"We're never going to get back to a point where the money flows freely," McIntyre said. "We're never going to get back to a point where discretionary funding is easy to get. I think that's a challenge we understand."

Klisz a political newcomer

A graduate of Churchill High School, Klisz works at his Livonia law firm as an attorney and sometimes works as a public defender in area courthouses. That experience, along with his educational background and interest in local happenings, led him to file to run.

"I love the law, I love the practice of law," he said. "I think law and government go hand in hand."

The filing is Klisz's first run for political office. He said he applied several years ago for the city clerk's position when it was open, was interviewed but was not ultimately selected. That position went to Terry Marecki, who left that post at the end of last year after winning a seat on the Wayne County Commission.

While the clerk's position is open again, Klisz said he'd prefer being able to do some work as a lawyer while also representing residents on council.

A member of the Livonia Bar Association and the current past president, Klisz said his involvement in the community, including at St. Colette Catholic Church and with other organizations like Relay for Life, as well as his work as a lawyer position himself well for a run at council.

"I think of my job in a way as solving problems for people. Everyone comes to me with some sort of problem to solve," he said. "If I'm good at that, that can translate on a larger scale to solving problems for the people of Livonia. That's what I'm going to do."

He said being a newcomer could work as a disadvantage for him, though he said he's gotten some encouraging signs from residents toward his candidacy. While his platform on issues is still being constructed, Klisz said he wants to continue working to spread the economic development through the city that has seen success on Middlebelt south of I-96.

Increasing the number of families and striking a balance between those newcomers to the city and those who have lived here for decades is also a priority for Klisz.

"(I want to) try to bring back the families, but not lose touch with the older generation. It's a combination," he said. "Make it good and great for seniors and families."

Returning candidate

Martin, who owns a statue business on Inkster north of Plymouth that he's discussed frequently during audience communication at city council meetings, turned in paperwork to run for the council in early January.

He made the announcement during the city council's audience communication portion of its study meeting Jan. 5.

"I'm looking forward to it," he said. "One of the reasons I'm running for city council, and if I'm lucky enough to sit in one of those seats up there, it would be purely to represent the citizens of Livonia."

Martin is no stranger to having his name on the ballot in Livonia: he ran for city council in 2013 as well, coming in last place that year with 1,699 votes.

The deadline to file to run for city council, mayor, treasurer and clerk is April 21. A primary, if needed, will take place Aug. 4. The general election is scheduled for Nov. 3.